Youth in Afar Call for Inclusion, Jobs, and Peace

On October 4th in Semera, young people from across the Afar Region came together for the Inclusive Youth Dialogue for Peace & Development (IYD4PD) organized by Ybuntu and Dagu Ethiopian Development Consortium in partnership with FES Ethiopia. Their message was clear: it’s time to move from promises to practical inclusion.

The discussions, held in a World Café format, gave participants the chance to reflect on the realities facing youth in Afar — from unemployment and exclusion to peace and participation. Throughout the dialogue, one point stood out: Young people want to be heard and to be part of the decisions that shape their lives.

Youth Left Out but Not Silent

Participants voiced deep frustration with the lack of employment opportunities and fair access to jobs. Many said favoritism, not merit, determines who gets hired or access to services, while inflation and limited credit access make it difficult to start small businesses. Despite emerging industries in Afar, they noted, local youth are often left out of the benefits.

Education was another major concern. University degrees, they said, rarely match the region’s job market needs, and the lack of digital skills further limits opportunities. Several young participants called for IT centers and better access to vocational training to bridge this gap.

Building Peace Starts with Inclusion

Peace and security were central themes of the dialogue. Many pointed out that the exclusion of youth from political processes and meaningful participation not only fuels frustration but also undermines peacebuilding efforts. “We want to be part of the national dialogue, not just hear about it,” one participant said, calling for more transparency and youth representation in national and regional decision-making.

The participants also warned against the instrumentalization of youth for political agendas and the spread of hate speech on social media, urging for more constructive dialogue and community engagement.

The Way Forward

Beyond the challenges, the dialogue revealed optimism rooted in Afar’s own traditions. Participants highlighted the region’s cultural systems, such as Dagu, which they said could play a role in spreading reliable information and fostering understanding among communities.

As the event concluded, one message resonated clearly: youth in Afar are ready to contribute to peace and development — if given the space, trust, and tools to do so. The call now is for policymakers to listen, engage, and act.